Convertible-type lawn chair



July 26, 1955 L. M. ANDREWS CONVERTIBLE-TYPE LAWN CHAIR Filed Feb. 1, 1952 Fig.4 22 3+- 36 22 44 |\\\\\\\\\\\\\|\\\\I l L /0* IO I A A Lewis M. Andrews ,0 INVENTOR.

Q I2 BY wfi fiM 2,713,888 Patented July 26, 1955 fi ice CONVERTIBLE-TYPE LAWN CHAIR Lewis M. Andrews, Montgomery, N. Y. Application February 1, 1952, Serial No. 269,567 4 Claims. (Cl. 15543) The present invention relates to certain new and useful structural improvements in lawn furniture, generally speaking, and has more particular reference to a structural adaptation which, when the complemental parts are in predetermined relationship, serves as a chair and, when said parts are in an alternate prescribed relationship, serves as a bench or table.

it is a matter of common knowledge that chair-table combinations are not new. As a matter of fact, persons informed in respect to this line of endeavor are well aware that many and varied chair-table adaptations have been devised. It is evident, therefore, that the instant invention has to do with a structural innovation which is thought to be a novel contribution to this line of endeavor.

Another object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and in other ways improve upon similarly constructed prior art chair-table combinations and in so doing to provide a unique construction in which manufacturers, furniture dealers and users will find their respective requirements and needs satisfactorily met.

More specifically, the invention has to do with wooden furniture wherein readily available easy-to-assemble components may be put together to provide a structure which serves as a lawn chair on the one hand; or, a strong well-balanced table, on the other hand. Briefly construed, a preferred embodiment of the structure is characterized by a leg-supported framework embodying a horizontal frame having a pair of interconnected spaced parallel frame members in a common plane, panel means fixed to said framework in a plane below said horizontal frame, relatively movable panel means situated between said frame members and disposed at an angle to said fixed panel means and having an end portion resting atop said fixed panel means, upstanding struts interposed between said fixed panel means and the respective frame members, said movable panel means being confined between said struts, and means carried by said movable panel means and separably connected to said struts.

More specifically, the invention appertains to a chairtable combination which is characterized by a U-shaped horizontal frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel frame members disposed in a common plane, a leg supported framework supporting said frame in an elevated position, seat means fixed on said framework in a plane below said frame, a pair of spaced parallel cleats secured atop one end portion of said seat means, upright struts attached to and rising from said seat means and attached at upper ends to said frame members, a backrest at an angle to said seat means, said backrest being situated between said frame members and struts with its lower end removably fitted between said cleats, and means affording a separable connection between said struts and adjacent edge portions of said backrest.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a convertible structure devised in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing the manner in which the parts are associated to provide a so-called lawn chair;

Figure 2 is a central section taken on the irregular line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a central vertical section on the line 33 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing how the optional or convertible table is set up for use; and,

Figure 4 is a cross-section on the vertical line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The aforementioned leg supported framework is characterized chiefly by a pair of front vertical legs 6-6 joined by a horizontal intermediate cross-brace 8. A pair of diagonal or inclined legs 10 are provided in somewhat familiar manner and these are joined to the front legs 66 and have their rear end portions 12 constructed to rest on the supporting surface, also in a well known manner. The first panel means is denoted at 14 and takes the form of an inclined seat and is made up of boards attached to the cross-brace 8 and legs 10. As usual, the seat 14 slants rearwardly and downwardly. In the instant situation the top side of the rear end portion of the seat is provided with a pair of spaced parallel transversely disposed and suitably fastened cleats 16 and 18 which are spaced apart as will be clear from Figure 3.

The aforementioned U-shaped horizontal frame unit is denoted by the numeral 20 and comprises a pair of first spaced parallel rails or frame members 22-22 and an interconnecting second frame member or bar 24. The latter is secured to the underside portions of the frame members 2222 and is spaced inwardly from the rear ends 26. The forward ends of the members 22 are supported atop and suitably secured to the legs 6-6. The intermediate portions are braced by upstanding brace members secured to seat 14 which are specifically described here as struts 2828. The upper end portions of the struts are bifurcated and the furcations define a keeper seat 30 as best shown in Figure 3. One furcation 32 is secured directly to the underside of the adjacent frame member and the other furcation is cut oif as at 34 to accommodate the adjustable second movable panel means 36 which takes the form of a backrest. The backrest is located between the inner longitudinal edge portions of the members 22-22 and also between the struts 28 and the lower end portion is removably located and held in the seat or space between the cleats 16 and 18, as'shown best in Figure 2. The normal upper end of the backrest is provided with a first crosspiece 38 whose ends terminate flush with the longitudinal edges 40. In addition, there is a second crosspiece 42 provided and this has its end portions projecting beyond the edges 40 and said projecting ends provide keepers 44 which are removably engageable with the keeper seats 39. L-shaped brackets or blocks 46 are provided and these are secured to the undersurfaces of the intermediate portions of the frame members 22-22. These brackets provide optional or additional keeper seats 48 to accommodate the stated keepers 44-44.

When the device is in use as a chair as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the keepers 44 are located in the keeper seats 30 and the lower end of the backrest is located between the cleats l6 and 18. This provides a substantial chair. By lifting the backrest up and disengaging the keepers 44 from the keeper seats 30 the panel or backrest may then be swung around so that it is in a plane with and located between the frame members 3 22-22 at which time (see Figures 3 and 4) the keepers are engaged releasably in the seats 48-48, at which time a satisfactory knockdown table is thus provided.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A chair comprising a horizontal substantially U-shaped frame embodying a pair of rigid spaced parallel frame members, a leg framework supporting said frame in an elevated position, seat means fixed on said framework in a plane below said frame, a pair of spaced parallel cleats secured atop one end portion of said seat means, upright struts attached to and rising from said seat means and attached at their upper ends to said frame members, the upper end portion of each strut being bifurcated and providing furcations, at least one of said furcations being cut back and cooperating with the adjacent furcation in defining a keeper seat between said furcations, a backrest having a lower portion located between said struts and frame members with its lower end portion fitting releasably in the space between said cleats and resting directly on said seat means, and a cross-piece fastened to said backrest and having extending end portions, the latter providing keepers and said keepers fitting removably into their respective keeper seats.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and brackets secured to the undersurfaces of the intermediate portions of said frame members, said brackets being L-shaped and cooperating with said frame members and providing additional optionally usable open-ended keeper seats for said keepers when said backrest is placed for intended use in a horizontal position.

3. Lawn furniture comprising a leg supported structure embodying a relatively stationary horizontal U-shaped frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar first frame members and a second frame member at right angles to and secured to the undersides of said first frame members at corresponding ends of said first frame members, the latter being provided intermediate their ends and on their undersides with a pair of oppositely disposed fixedly attached L-shaped brackets and said brackets providing keeper seats, a horizontal panel arranged between and coplanar with said first frame members and having one end resting on the U-shaped frame, a first cross piece secured to one end portion of said panel, a second cross piece secured to an intermediate portion of said panel and having end portions extending beyond the adjacent longitudinal edge portions of the panel and providing keepers, said keepers being releasably engaged in said keeper seats, said leg structure also including a framework, seat means fixed on said framework in a plane below said U-shaped frame, struts attached to and rising from said seat means and having their upper ends attached to the intermediate portions of the respective cooperating frame members, said struts being provided with keeper seats for selective optional reception of the aforementioned keepers when said panel is shifted from the aforementioned horizontal position to a vertical position between the struts and resting on the seat means at which time it functions as a back rest.

4. A chair comprising a substantially horizontal U-shaped frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel frame members, a leg framework supporting said frame in an elevated position, seat means fixed on said framework in a plane below said frame, a pair of spaced parallel cleats secured atop one end portion of said seat means, upright struts attached to and rising from said seat means and attached at their upper ends to intermediate portions of the respective cooperating frame members, a readily insertable and removable backrest at an angle to said seat means, said backrest being situated in a position between the said frame members as well as between said struts and having its lower end resting on said seat means and removably fitted between said cleats, said backrest being provided with keepers, and said struts having their forward edge portions provided with open-ended keeper seats, said keeper seats being disposed in positions beneath but adjacent to the overlying portions of said frame members, said keepers fitting releasably into said keeper seats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 468,052 Cannon Feb. 2, 1892 916,631 Towne Mar. 30, 1909 1,002,694 Hoffman Sept. 5, 1911 1,419,647 Shepherdson June 13, 1922 1,855,130 Appleby Apr. 19, 1932 1,976,031 Lowenberg Oct. 9, 1934 2,468,491 Dorschner Apr. 26, 1949 2,540,254 Garber Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 67,564 Denmark Sept. 6, 1948 195,545 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1923 

